Google DeepMind’s GenCast Sets a New Standard for Medium-Range Mountain Forecasting High-stakes decisions in the alpine depend on getting the forecast right. A month’s worth of anticipation can hinge on whether a distant storm sets up over the northern Rockies or takes a hard turn somewhere over the Pacific. At a time when sudden thaws, unusual precipitation patterns, and volatile storm tracks are becoming all too common, the value of pinpointing […] Weather Clay Malott | December 11, 2024 0 Comments
Brain Post: What is a Rain Shadow? Picture this: A storm gathers off the Pacific, its clouds heavy, bloated with moisture stolen from the ocean. They press forward, barreling toward the rugged face of a towering mountain range like the Sierra Nevada or the Cascades. As the storm meets the peaks, it’s as if an invisible hand drags the moisture-laden air skyward, lifting it higher, step by […] Weather Clay Malott | December 3, 2024 0 Comments
Brain Post: What Does a 50% Chance of Snow Actually Mean? You wake up, pulling back the curtains and checking the forecast for the day. Your weather app reports a 50% chance of snow between 9 and 10 a.m. Excitement bubbles up—visions of fresh tracks through powder fields dance in your mind. But hang on. Does that mean half the mountain will be blanketed in snow? Or maybe it’ll only snow […] Weather Clay Malott | December 2, 2024 0 Comments
Cutoff Lows: The Rogue Weather Systems Behind Massive Dumps You pull back the curtains to an unexpected winter wonderland. Everything is buried. A heavy blanket of fresh powder covers rooftops, vehicles, and the slopes outside your window. There’s a certain mystery to snow days like these that sometimes defy the forecast and keep powder hounds guessing. Sometimes, the culprit behind these massive dumps comes courtesy of one of the […] Weather Clay Malott | November 21, 2024 0 Comments
Global vs. Mesoscale Weather Forecasting Models—How Do They Differ? Weather models the best tools we have for peering into the future of the atmosphere, but not all models are the same. When forecasters talk about global and mesoscale weather models, what exactly are they referring to? Global Models Global weather models are exactly what they sound like. They look at the big picture, covering the entire planet. These models […] Weather Clay Malott | November 20, 2024 0 Comments
Brain Post: Temperature Inversions—Nature’s Double-Edged Sword Nature’s Temperature Trick A cold, clear winter morning: the world seems frozen in place. The valley below lies blanketed in frost, with fog pooling in the low spots, almost as if nature pressed pause overnight. This scene isn’t just picturesque; it’s the result of a fascinating atmospheric phenomenon known as a temperature inversion. Typically, warm air sits closer to the […] Weather Clay Malott | November 14, 2024 0 Comments
The Secret Ingredient to a Perfect Powder Day: Snow Liquid Ratio Some powder days feel like magic—light, airy snow that you can ski through like it’s barely there. Other days, it’s like skiing through oatmeal: heavy, dense, a workout in every turn. There’s a reason for this, and it’s not just luck or a specific mountain range. It all comes down to the Snow Liquid Ratio, a metric that’s as important […] Weather Clay Malott | November 13, 2024 0 Comments
Brain Post: Atmospheric Rivers—Nature’s Moisture Conveyor Belt A powerful force flows invisibly over the Pacific—a conveyor belt of moisture that meteorologists call an atmospheric river (or AR for short). These moisture bands transport enormous quantities of water vapor, crucial for precipitation—and snowfall—along the West Coast. Atmospheric rivers funnel this moisture from the tropics, like a fire hose aimed at western North America. When they land, they often […] Weather Clay Malott | November 12, 2024 0 Comments
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